Former Rangers Superstar Officially Announces Retirement

Texas Rangers fans are on cloud nine following Wednesday's World Series-clinching win over the Arizona Diamondbacks. While there's plenty of reason to celebrate the first title in franchise history, that wasn't the only reason for celebration this week.

Former Ranger Nelson Cruz announced his MLB retirement on 'The Adam Jones Podcast' on Thursday morning. The 43-year-old did his best to stay active and chase 500 home runs, but his retirement is a reminder that Father Time is undefeated.

Nelson Cruz Retirement

Up-and-coming baseball players dream of having the career that Cruz experienced. The Dominican crusher played 2,055 games across eight different teams, racking up 464 HRs (37th in MLB history) and 1,325 RBIs (101st). That's without mentioning his numerous accolades, which include seven all-star appearances, four Silver Slugger trophies, and the 2011 ALCS MVP award.

While Cruz dazzled numerous fanbases, he played more for the Rangers (796 games) than any other team. It didn't take long for him to become a Texas fan favorite when he moved to the Lone Star State as a part of a six-player deal with the Milwaukee Brewers in July 2006.

In fact, the newly-minted retiree still ranks eighth in HRs (157) and 10th in at-bats per HR when it comes to franchise statistics despite having not played for the Rangers since 2013. Additionally, Globe Life Field is where he hit 21.8% (101) of his career home runs.

At the end of the day, Rangers fans won't ever forget how Cruz impacted the franchise. Sure, he never won a ring with Texas, but chances are the Rangers wouldn't have made the 2011 World Series without his ALCS performance at the age of 31.

Enjoy retirement, "Boomstick" — you deserve it.

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